Harness the Power of Mini Miyawaki Forests to Fight Climate Change: Exploring the Significant Contribution of Tiny Forests
In the pursuit of ecological restoration and urban rejuvenation, the Miyawaki Forest method has emerged as a promising solution for transforming green or abandoned city spaces. This innovative approach, championed by Dr. Akira Miyawaki, emphasises native biodiversity, dense planting, and soil preparation to create fast-growing, self-sustaining ecosystems. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to plant a Miyawaki Forest.
**Steps to Plant a Miyawaki Forest**
1. **Site and Soil Analysis** Begin by conducting a detailed examination of the land. Focus on soil type and native vegetation patterns, and identify native tree and shrub species that naturally thrive in your region to ensure ecological compatibility.
2. **Soil Preparation** Excavate about one meter deep in the planting area and remove the soil temporarily. Amend this soil with organic matter such as compost, natural mulches, nutrients, and materials to improve water retention and aeration. Mix thoroughly and replace it to create a rich, well-structured substrate that accelerates root establishment.
3. **Plant Selection** Choose a diverse mix of native species—typically 30 to 50 different types—including species from all four forest layers: canopy, sub-canopy, understory, and ground cover. This diversity ensures a vibrant, resilient ecosystem and mimics the natural forest structure.
4. **Dense Planting** Plant saplings very close together, at a density of about 3 to 5 saplings per square meter, which translates to 30,000 to 50,000 stems per hectare, much denser than traditional forestry. Plant randomly rather than in rows to simulate natural forest growth and encourage competition for sunlight, which fosters rapid vertical growth.
5. **Initial Care and Maintenance** Water the site regularly initially to support sapling establishment. The dense planting creates a microclimate that reduces water evaporation, so over time, watering needs diminish. The forest becomes largely self-sustaining within a few years.
**Benefits of Miyawaki Forests**
- **Rapid Growth:** Miyawaki forests grow up to 10 times faster than conventional planted forests, reaching maturity in 20-30 years compared to about 100 years normally. - **Dense Ecosystems:** They develop a 30 times denser vegetation and 100 times more biodiversity, creating robust and stable ecosystems. - **Ecological Restoration:** Helps revive local flora and fauna, restores degraded lands, and improves soil quality and water retention. - **Urban Heat Mitigation:** In urban areas, Miyawaki forests provide shade and cooling, improving microclimates and air quality.
**Plant Selection Considerations**
- **Native Species Only:** Use only species native to the region to restore the natural botanical heritage rather than introducing exotic or non-local plants. - **Four Forest Layers:** Ensure representation across canopy trees, sub-canopy trees, shrubs (understory), and ground covers for structural and ecological complexity. - **Diversity:** A broad spectrum of species (30-50) supports a balanced ecosystem with various ecological niches.
By following these steps carefully and prioritising ecological integrity through native species and dense planting, the Miyawaki Method offers a scientifically validated way to rapidly regenerate forests that are resilient, biodiverse, and beneficial both ecologically and socially. Some key considerations include planting trees two feet apart, ensuring a suitable planting area of at least 200 square feet, considering tree height to prevent growth into overhead lines, and verifying the location of utilities buried underground before planting.
In the long term, little maintenance should be required as the goal is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem. This type of forest is now referred to as a micro forest or pocket forest, and it significantly increases biodiversity, lowers temperatures, requires little maintenance, absorbs stormwater and associated pollutants, and accumulates carbon more quickly than traditional green spaces. Native plants can be obtained by growing them by seed or purchasing them from a local Conservation District or Native Plant Society.
- By planting native tree and shrub species that naturally thrive in your region, you're contributing to environmental science, as Miyawaki Forests prioritize native biodiversity, reflecting the principles of ecological restoration.
- As you tend to your home and garden, consider incorporating gardening techniques from the Miyawaki Forest method, as these dense, fast-growing ecosystems imitate the lifestyle of a lush, garden-like natural forest.
- The climate-change battle can be fought at home through urban rejuvenation, as transforming city spaces with Miyawaki Forests not only provides dense ecosystems, but also contributes to urban heat mitigation by providing shade and cooling, improving microclimates and air quality.
